About a Boy discourages bully victims from standing up for themselves
About a Boy (1998) written by Nick Hornby is a great example of one of the themes in this course, “alienation and loneliness.” A theme that is extremely relevant to the times we live in. Even though we have so many tools and social media applications on our smartphones to help us to be social, studies show that we are feeling lonelier than ever (Rebecca Harris, The loneliness epidemic in The Independent, 2015).
Even though About a Boy seems to be a sweet coming-of-age story involving a boy and a middle-aged man finding and helping each other, a thorough analysis of the text and subtext in the novel will demonstrate that the plot as a whole, as well as the actions of the adult characters, sends a message that discourages from forming or being proud of your own identity, as well as discouraging outcasts and bully-victims to stand up for themselves.
The novel focuses on the two main characters, Will and Marcus, and their improbable friendship. Will has never had to work thanks to inherited money and prefers to spend his days listening to music, watching TV, using drugs and dating. Marcus is a twelve-year-old boy who does not fit in at school. His parents are separated, and Marcus lives with his mother, who suffers from depression. Marcus never wears the right clothes and knows nothing about popular music, which makes him an easy target for bullies. At first, Will wants nothing to do with Marcus who hassles him day after day, but gradually he comes to realize that Marcus, who is bullied at school every day for being different, needs help. For the first time in his life, Will begins to think beyond himself. Ultimately the novel is a coming-of-age story, where it for Will means becoming an adult, but for Marcus becoming a normal kid.
Firstly, one of the main characters in Marcus life is his mother, Fiona, who is a critical reason to Marcus becoming an outcast in the ...